We have recently learned that the workers in the General Motors’ plant in Detroit, have secured extended contracts until early 2020. Through the hard work and tireless advocacy of American local, regional and federal government representatives, the people of Detroit will continue to build GM vehicles, pay their bills and feed their families. It is simply unacceptable that the Ontario Conservative government and the federal Liberal government, were unwilling to do the same for Canadian workers.

Since his election nearly four years ago, Prime Minister Trudeau has forsaken the manufacturing and automotive sector stating that we must move away from these types of jobs, but his government has provided no strategic plan that would replace those good-paying and community building jobs. The Trudeau Liberals cancelled the Automotive Investment Fund and have done nothing to help the people of Oshawa in their time of need. Since becoming Premier, Doug Ford said that nothing could be done to stop GM from leaving their plant in Oshawa and has only thrown up his hands in submission.

GM claims the need to close the facility is to generate additional resources to invest in innovation, but during the first three quarters of 2018 the company generated $6 billion in profits and has received multibillion dollar investments for its autonomous vehicle unit. Not to mention, Canadian taxpayers gave them $11 billion dollars in 2009 as incentive to stay in Canada. Yet despite these profits and our generosity, the company is hanging thousands of its Canadian workers out to dry.

After both the company and both levels of government have abandoned the workers, someone must stand up and fight for their jobs. New Democrats will always fight for workers, for their families, our communities, our futures and for fairness.